4 Reasons to Quit Caffeine if You’re Undergoing Sleep Apnea Treatment

Do you need a cup or two (or three, or eight…) of coffee before you’re even ready to speak to other people in the morning? Many require a little caffeine boost to get their day started, and that can be especially true for someone who’s in need of sleep apnea treatment in Jupiter. While a little caffeine might seem like a big help for someone with this condition, the fact of the matter is that caffeine could actually be making it worse. If you have sleep apnea, here are the top 4 reasons you should quit (or at least cut back on) caffeine.

1. Break the Cycle of Exhaustion

The caffeine cycle of exhaustion goes like this: you wake up in the morning, tired, so you have some coffee, and then you feel fine. However, as good as caffeine is, it’s not a substitute for sleep, so you inevitably need more by the middle of the afternoon. Unfortunately, caffeine can affect the body for about four to six hours after its been consumed, so that afternoon cup of joe can easily throw off your sleep that night, leading to exhaustion the next morning, and the cycle repeats itself again and again.

When you have sleep apnea, every bit of quality sleep you can get is precious. It’s best to not have any form of caffeine starting at around noon, so when you go to bed, it will be completely out of your system, and you’ll likely be able to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

2. Lower Your Blood Pressure

It’s well documented that caffeine can raise your blood pressure a few points, and for some, it can cause it to skyrocket. High blood pressure is one of the most common underlying causes of problems like stroke and heart attack, and you know what else leads to high blood pressure? Sleep apnea. Between it and a constant intake of caffeine, you’re probably significantly raising your risk for a cardiac event.

3. Improve Your Mood

One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is depression/mood swings, and many people experience similar ups and downs if their constantly drinking caffeine. Together, these effects can amplify one another, making it extremely hard for someone to control their emotions, which can quickly lead to damaged relationships and isolation. If you have sleep apnea, keeping your caffeine intake to a minimum can help you stay on an even keel and think more clearly throughout the day.

4. Watch Your Waistline

While many people enjoy their coffee black, others like to pour in plenty of milk, cream, sugar, and other sweet items to improve the taste. This steady intake of extra sugar can quickly make someone pack on the pounds, leading to one of the primary causes of sleep apnea: obesity. Cutting out a few sugary caffeinated drinks each day over a long period of time can easily cause extra pounds to melt away, lessening sleep apnea symptoms in the process.

What to Remember

If you’re getting treatment for sleep apnea and still require quite a bit of caffeine throughout the day, you should consult your doctor to see if your treatment needs to be adjusted. By getting your sleep issues under control and enjoying caffeine responsibly, you’ll not only wake up in the morning feeling full of energy, but you’ll also be able to enjoy coffee because you want to, not because you need to.

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a certified sleep dentist who has been helping people all over Florida overcome snoring and sleep apnea for more than 30 years. At his practice, he provides custom-made oral appliances and also facilitates patients getting sleep testing in Jupiter. To contact Dr. Mogell and get more information about how you can manage sleep apnea, click here.